SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 221
WHEREAS, February 16 through 20, 2009, is being celebrated
as Texas Technology Week in order to increase public awareness of
the extraordinary achievements of these industries and the vital
role they play in the prosperity of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Sponsoring Texas Technology Week are TechAmerica,
the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, TechNet Texas,
the Metroplex Technology Business Council, the Texas Association
of Business, the Texas Coalition for Capital, and the Solar
Alliance; and
WHEREAS, The technology and life-sciences industries and
research institutions of Texas are achieving leading-edge
advances in medicine, space exploration, computing,
communications, energy, and transportation, revolutionizing the
world we live in; within the state, these industries employ more
Texans than do the oil, natural gas, and agriculture industries
combined, and their high-wage, highly skilled jobs contribute to
a diverse and growing economy; and
WHEREAS, People around the globe have benefitted
immeasurably from the medical treatments and devices developed
by Texas companies, and the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience
Institute, whose membership includes research institutions,
regional economic development entities and communities, and
biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies,
acknowledges that in 2006, one of almost every 23 U.S.
biotechnology employees worked in Texas; nine recipients of
biotechnology-related Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science,
or National Medals of Technology are based in this state; in
2007, the National Institutes of Health awarded more than $1
billion in grants and awards to entities in the State of Texas;
and Texas biotechnology-related patent growth is outpacing the
national average; and
WHEREAS, The life-sciences industry constitutes a
significant pillar of the Texas economy, including approximately
3,200 establishments employing over 85,400 Texans, with the
promise of continued job growth for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, TechAmerica, the nation's largest high-technology
trade group, reports that Texas ranks second in the country in
high-tech employment, with some 459,000 jobs, and 56 of every
1,000 private sector workers in our state are employed by
high-tech firms; moreover, Texas ranks second among all states in
terms of its high-tech employment, and ninth among all the states
in terms of its high-tech average wage, a wage nearly double that
of the average private sector worker, which allows the industry
to provide an aggregate high-tech payroll of $37.5 billion; the
importance of this industry to Texans is further underscored by
the fact that high-tech product exports exceed $35.9 billion and
account for 21 percent of the state's international exports; and
WHEREAS, All sectors of the high-technology and
life-sciences community are joining together this week to
discuss the major issues facing their industries and to affirm
their support for a strong system of public and higher education,
a critical factor in providing the highly skilled workforce on
which these industries depend; and
WHEREAS, The technology and life-sciences industries have
become a tremendous engine of economic growth in the State of
Texas, and the benefits of their research and production enrich
people the world over; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
Legislature, hereby recognize February 16 through 20, 2009, as
Texas Technology Week and commend its sponsors for their
outstanding efforts in promoting research, development,
products, services, and manufacturing in the State of Texas; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of Texas Technology Week.
Shapiro
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 18, 2009.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate